I've always been and will always be a cheesy person, when I was still pregnant with Kulay I thought I would have a non-standard lullabye. I just really don't know much of the variety of lullabyes out there. Now, I know of three, however I keep on forgetting the lyrics.
There's this one pop song though that I've always loved. I had that song in my head when my favorite grandmother died. Note that I don't find it creepy at all that I would be singing this song to my child. This idea was so in my system that I sang it the first time I held Kulay and didn't care for the world if I was out of tune or if I was making a tearful mess of myself.
As the first weeks of post-birth go bye, I sang this song whole-heartedly whenever and wherever. However, about a month or so after, Kulay started having fits at night which doesn't seem to lessen when I sing and in fact the singing sorta escalates his wailing. So long story short I quit singing the damn song and just hummed whatever I could hum. This worked somehow.
So I have not sung that song to Kulay for a while now (he is 16 mos old now FYI) but last night I did. And to my surprise, he quieted down, grabbed his bottle, sucked on it and sleepily stared at me and of course slept. I guess we are back to this soundtrack. And I'm loving it. I'm so loving it, I even got an idea for a blog entry!!! YAY!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Because I can’t sleep, let me talk about SLEEPING…
I would have to say that I am lucky to have an angel of a baby during night time parenting. Sleeping through the night as an average definition from most books is when a baby is able to sleep for 5 consecutive hours without waking. And at 3 months Kulay was already sleeping through the night. He would only wake for a feeding; for a nappy change; or for when he feels that it’s time I transfer him from his crib to beside me on the bed. I can count with my fingers the number of nights Kulay woke up at night and seemingly wanting to play. These are (as I have read) moments when he was learning a new skill and practicing happens at night: when he learned to tumble from side to side to rolling on his belly to his back and vice versa; when he was learning to sit; and when he started pulling up.
And then there were the occasional teething pains, before I discovered teething gel, I was constantly being woken up by Kulay’s incessant cries. And of course there are also those terrible sick nights when he couldn’t stay asleep because of nasal congestion or persistent coughing.
Putting him to sleep is altogether a different issue… which took a lot of trials before finally settling with a routine that worked. I remember when he was about a month old (and this lasted for about a month or two) he resisted sleep and would wail loudly right about the time Ted Failon is delivering the news (as if in protest of whatever he is reporting). I sang to him but that didn’t really work (oh well, I wouldn’t also want my own singing voice singing me to sleep). On the other hand humming and making shushing sounds worked for a while.
The putting to sleep magic for Kulay was a night time routine: bath at around 5.30 pm; a bit of quality time (lots of giggling and cuddling) with mommy and daddy; Milk beside us as we watch the news; and then as soon as I catch a yawn: I say my night time script “ Night night Daddy, night night TV, night night electric fan, night night toys (etc. depending on his state of wakefulness);” then as I put him down in his crib: “Night night Kulay, night night Mr. Sun, Hello Mr. Moon, join me in my slumber.” The length of time from bath to the night night script varies from time to time: the older Kulay gets the longer this spans; and the more tired he is the shorter the difference. And then of course there are the occasional rebellious nights when you both know he’s already really sleepy and you’ve done the night night script like 10 times over but he just wouldn’t quit the world and retire for the night.
(Like my scattered thoughts tonight that just wouldn’t retire and shut down for the night.)
Some of the best advice I read on different books about night time parenting are:
1) The baby has no idea about night and day when he was still in the womb, it is then up to you, the parent, to teach him about it.
2) Turning the lights on at night in the bedroom and playing with him when he is awake at night is not a good idea. Reserve play time during day time.
3) Have a night time hushed voice.
4) Keep a flexible but predictable routine. Babies thrive on predictability.
5) Don’t let him cry it out. In the first few months crying is the only way he can communicate, so maybe he needs something you, and only you, can give. And the more that he knows he can trust that you’d be there for him when he needs something the easier he will be able to let go of the world around him and sleep soundly.
Naptime deserves another entry.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A new beginning
To say I’ve been busy is not an excuse, I should’ve at least made an effort. There just seemed to be too much space between the last entry and now. For the longest time, my excuse to myself is the lagging internet connection c/o smartbro; but now that I’m on pldt dsl I therefore should have no more excuse to not publish any entry.
I just felt that I can’t keep up with the lag… 10 months of Kulay moments is a lot to dissect and write about but it can get darn cluttered in ones head.
So let me begin by a simple list of topics about Kulay which I want to share:
1)
2) Getting a good night’s rest for mommy and baby, or not
3) Nappy changes made easy
4) My thoughts on vaccination
5) Gender sensitivity; the nature/nurture battle and how to make kulay more well rounded individual
6) Teething pains for kulay and mommy
7) Kulay not gaining weight and mommy gaining and gaining and gaining some more.
8) Kulay goes to work with mommy.
9) mommy, mama, nanay, nana, inay: which one to be called. :D
The above is listed in no particular order. I shall hopefully begin with one topic soon…
This shall do for now. :D
Friday, October 23, 2009
Motherhood (the last three months)
Warning: This blog entry is worth 5 or more entries.
Here are two absolutes I wanted since I got wound up of being pregnant:
1. A normal delivery: I, like most idealistic moms-to-be, had that movie playing in our head... at the end of the three trimesters, I will be woken up in the middle of the night of some sign (pain) that I'm about to give birth. I will then wake my husband (partner) and we will scramble to the hospital, excited, scared, and worried but mostly excited.
2. Breastfeeding solely: It is definitely best for babies up to 2 years. And I was determined to breastfeed entirely for the next two years of my Kulay's life.
These absolutes were to crumble just as I face them.
1. 2 weeks prior to my due date, Kulay my boy has not locked down yet. However, my OB was positive (even more than before) that we could have a normal delivery since according to her external palpation of Kulay in my belly, he wasn't a big baby. The next week, still no lock down. My OB had to check Kulay's head size via a pelvic xray, and he fits. And since at that time, my amniotic fluid was still enough, we were to wait another week to give Kulay a chance to lock down. I tried my best to do a lot of moving around despite the bad weather just so Kulay would find his way down, in fact, I was almost certain that the pain I feel near my vajayjay could be the sign that Kulay has really locked down as he should have. At my Sept. 10 visit, still no luck. Cesarian section it is... to be done on the 12th, a date I picked. (I might as well choose the date since I now have some sort of control on that issue, I wish it was the 9th though).
On the morning of Sept. 12, packed with more clothes than I previously prepacked, armed with my body pillow and comforter, Josua and I head to the hospital knowing I was going to be cracked open at around 10am. We were being expected at the emergency room, although there seem to be no apparent emergency. The OR nurse went down to prep me for the "operation" (first one I've ever had in my entire life) she attached an IV (rather well, so much so that even if it were just hanging by my wrist via plasters it never moved or caused me unnecessary pain), she shaved me in the tummy and "down there" (which sorta shocked me cause my baby wasn't passing through the vajayjay anyway) and she shaved rather vigorously as if I was a pig ready to be slaughtered. When I sorta complained about her vigorous moves, she non-chalantly answered: "Ganyan talaga para matanggal lahat." (It's really that way. So we're sure we remove all the hair.)
We were admitted at 8 am, went to the ward to wait for the operating room to be ready til 9. I met my anesthesiologist at around 9.30. He explained the drug he was going to use, and asked if I want to be awake when Kulay gets out, of course I said yes. And then he joked around with the male nurses about how this motel nearby was servicing transpo for customers in and out of their facility, but before I could say my two cents worth about the joke, he had injected the dormicum to put me to sleep. True to his word, at 10.04 he woke me right when Kulay was out, showed Kulay's face to my groggyness, and even let Kulay latch on one of my nipples for a brief moment. After which I was in a series of groggy wakefulness and sleep. I remember having chills like there's no tomorrow. I remember saying "ang lamig" (It's cold.). I remember a kind nurse wrapping my arms with extra blanket. I remember the other older anesthesiologist reading his newspaper very near my face, and I swear I would strangle him if I sneezed. I remember the clock at 11am, 12nn, and then 1pm.
Then my OB, whom I saw for the first time that morning, told me that she made the incision smaller, although still vertical. As much as the bikini cut would have been good for my body type, we needed a vertical incision so that she could have enough room to biopsy the cysts in both my ovaries. And she then told me another sort of good news and bad news. They found the cyst in my left ovary has ruptured and has spread it's grime in the ovary and the fallopian tube. She was going to try to save the body parts but decided on removing them entirely since the cyst has already ruined and killed the nerves on the tube for it to function normally.
A few minutes later, I saw Kulay's pediatrician, whom I have previosly chosen and spoken to. She says he's okay, realized he could bring him in and then went to the nursery for him. I see my boy and Dra. Torres brings him to my face for a kiss. To the doctors' surprise, I asked the weirdest question: "What color are his balls?" This was a pertinent question as that would declare Kulay's future as a kid. It was reddish and grayish. Which left the thought in my head unanswered, and filed it in my head to check later on as soon as I see him outside the OR. To those who are wondering, the balls would tell if the boy would be fair or dark skinned.
As the people were closing me up, I remember having a conversation with my doctors about my dogs; that I'll be selling some shih tzus and giving away an lab/askal mix pups. Dr. Nablo, the anesthesiologist asked for the only male pup among Tala's lot. And I promised to save it for him. And he said he'll drop by the ward later on to check on me, which was actually just so he could make sure I remember my drugged promise.
I was monitored for about an hour or so, if I'm not mistaken I left the recovery area, which is actually the same operating room, at around 3pm. Josua was right outside waiting for me. I have never seen so much concern and pride. He's already seen Kulay and says he looks like him. In my head I said, "Let me be the judge of that." To me, it really didn't matter much who Kulay looks like as long as he is safe and would be in arms soon.
I was hoping I could see Kulay when I woke up around 6pm, but realized I was attached to the bed with the catheter and since I'm not allowed to lift my head for a while, that would mean, I'll be seeing Kulay the next day. :(
The next day, a Sunday (bad choice to be operated on a Saturday), I was eager to show the nursing staff that I'm all better. I could lift my upper body, sway to the left and the right, and as soon as the attending OB okayed for the catheter to be removed, I asked for the nurse to remove it immediately, she even kindly gave me a sponge bath and changed my hospital gown, I also requested to see Kulay. Soon after, a man trolling a wheelchair appeared, he was to bring me to the Nursery. I saw my boy for the first time without the effects of the sleeping drug and anesthesia. I was teary eyed. I didn't care if the pedia nurse could hear me, with squeaky, cracking, sobbing voice, I sang to Kulay. I stayed only 15mins, Kulay wouldn't latch on both boobs yet, we were both novice at the art of breastfeeding. I went up and changed to my normal clothes, right in time for my visitors arrival, Josua's parents with his niece, Yan-yan; my aunt, Ate Boling; my uncle, Kuya Mon with my cousin Evan; Kuya Leihson and his soon-to-be-wife, Ayha.
Our first family picture was to be taken that afternoon at the nursery nursing/waiting area.
I requested Kulay to be roomed in with me but my pedia arrived at the hospital late that night. Dra. Torres arrived promptly the following day and told me Kulay would be brought to me soon, and she'd be back later that afternoon as soon as my OB signs my release papers.
As I look back, the C-section wasn't that bad after all. The worst part of it was not being allowed to eat and drink until I've farted (to be sure my digestive system (intestines) are aligned). That was the most famished and thirsty I've ever been my entire life. Healing which was my major concern is after all as subjective as one's choice of how they want their eggs done. I am after all a fighter. So I fought the pain. Motherhood is not qualified by what kind of delivery a mother went through. And as I told the student nurse who volunteered to clean Kulay's poop (the first one I witnessed), "Go on... I will have years of cleaning up after my son's mess."
2. Breastfeeding is best for babies up to 2 years. Everyone knows so. To me and my pocket's disappointment, I would have to supplement with the pedia's recommended formula.
Two weeks prior to giving birth I have complained to my OB about a hardness and pain in my left nipple. A pain which even made me sleep sitting down since sleeping on my left side was too much to handle for the said nipple. The pain went away although the blockage stayed. Sad to say, my OB wasn't as concerned as I was. As I have predicted, Kulay wouldn't latch on the left boob, I felt like I was punishing him whenever I'd put him on that teat.
I think it was an infection caused by the cyst's rupture. My OB doesn't seem to agree also she didn't know what to do with it and just adviced me to let Josua suck on the boob to aid in the loosening of the blockage. And we tried all we could do. I had 3 manghihilots see me. They all were able to successfully give my right boob more milk but none of them was able to do anything with the blocked areola/nipple area. We were advised to put chili leaves on the areola, and we did that... For a while I thought it was working. One night, Josua and I even stayed up just pumping and working the blockage out to no avail. For a month now, I have resigned to the fact that I'll only be feeding with my right boob, if one looks closely you'll notice it's bigger than the other. I will have to top up with formula whenever Kulay doesn't seem satisfied; for at least one feeding during the night; and when Kulay seem to cry for the bottle and not my boob.
All I can say is "I tried my best."
Here are two absolutes I wanted since I got wound up of being pregnant:
1. A normal delivery: I, like most idealistic moms-to-be, had that movie playing in our head... at the end of the three trimesters, I will be woken up in the middle of the night of some sign (pain) that I'm about to give birth. I will then wake my husband (partner) and we will scramble to the hospital, excited, scared, and worried but mostly excited.
2. Breastfeeding solely: It is definitely best for babies up to 2 years. And I was determined to breastfeed entirely for the next two years of my Kulay's life.
These absolutes were to crumble just as I face them.
1. 2 weeks prior to my due date, Kulay my boy has not locked down yet. However, my OB was positive (even more than before) that we could have a normal delivery since according to her external palpation of Kulay in my belly, he wasn't a big baby. The next week, still no lock down. My OB had to check Kulay's head size via a pelvic xray, and he fits. And since at that time, my amniotic fluid was still enough, we were to wait another week to give Kulay a chance to lock down. I tried my best to do a lot of moving around despite the bad weather just so Kulay would find his way down, in fact, I was almost certain that the pain I feel near my vajayjay could be the sign that Kulay has really locked down as he should have. At my Sept. 10 visit, still no luck. Cesarian section it is... to be done on the 12th, a date I picked. (I might as well choose the date since I now have some sort of control on that issue, I wish it was the 9th though).
On the morning of Sept. 12, packed with more clothes than I previously prepacked, armed with my body pillow and comforter, Josua and I head to the hospital knowing I was going to be cracked open at around 10am. We were being expected at the emergency room, although there seem to be no apparent emergency. The OR nurse went down to prep me for the "operation" (first one I've ever had in my entire life) she attached an IV (rather well, so much so that even if it were just hanging by my wrist via plasters it never moved or caused me unnecessary pain), she shaved me in the tummy and "down there" (which sorta shocked me cause my baby wasn't passing through the vajayjay anyway) and she shaved rather vigorously as if I was a pig ready to be slaughtered. When I sorta complained about her vigorous moves, she non-chalantly answered: "Ganyan talaga para matanggal lahat." (It's really that way. So we're sure we remove all the hair.)
We were admitted at 8 am, went to the ward to wait for the operating room to be ready til 9. I met my anesthesiologist at around 9.30. He explained the drug he was going to use, and asked if I want to be awake when Kulay gets out, of course I said yes. And then he joked around with the male nurses about how this motel nearby was servicing transpo for customers in and out of their facility, but before I could say my two cents worth about the joke, he had injected the dormicum to put me to sleep. True to his word, at 10.04 he woke me right when Kulay was out, showed Kulay's face to my groggyness, and even let Kulay latch on one of my nipples for a brief moment. After which I was in a series of groggy wakefulness and sleep. I remember having chills like there's no tomorrow. I remember saying "ang lamig" (It's cold.). I remember a kind nurse wrapping my arms with extra blanket. I remember the other older anesthesiologist reading his newspaper very near my face, and I swear I would strangle him if I sneezed. I remember the clock at 11am, 12nn, and then 1pm.
Then my OB, whom I saw for the first time that morning, told me that she made the incision smaller, although still vertical. As much as the bikini cut would have been good for my body type, we needed a vertical incision so that she could have enough room to biopsy the cysts in both my ovaries. And she then told me another sort of good news and bad news. They found the cyst in my left ovary has ruptured and has spread it's grime in the ovary and the fallopian tube. She was going to try to save the body parts but decided on removing them entirely since the cyst has already ruined and killed the nerves on the tube for it to function normally.
A few minutes later, I saw Kulay's pediatrician, whom I have previosly chosen and spoken to. She says he's okay, realized he could bring him in and then went to the nursery for him. I see my boy and Dra. Torres brings him to my face for a kiss. To the doctors' surprise, I asked the weirdest question: "What color are his balls?" This was a pertinent question as that would declare Kulay's future as a kid. It was reddish and grayish. Which left the thought in my head unanswered, and filed it in my head to check later on as soon as I see him outside the OR. To those who are wondering, the balls would tell if the boy would be fair or dark skinned.
As the people were closing me up, I remember having a conversation with my doctors about my dogs; that I'll be selling some shih tzus and giving away an lab/askal mix pups. Dr. Nablo, the anesthesiologist asked for the only male pup among Tala's lot. And I promised to save it for him. And he said he'll drop by the ward later on to check on me, which was actually just so he could make sure I remember my drugged promise.
I was monitored for about an hour or so, if I'm not mistaken I left the recovery area, which is actually the same operating room, at around 3pm. Josua was right outside waiting for me. I have never seen so much concern and pride. He's already seen Kulay and says he looks like him. In my head I said, "Let me be the judge of that." To me, it really didn't matter much who Kulay looks like as long as he is safe and would be in arms soon.
I was hoping I could see Kulay when I woke up around 6pm, but realized I was attached to the bed with the catheter and since I'm not allowed to lift my head for a while, that would mean, I'll be seeing Kulay the next day. :(
The next day, a Sunday (bad choice to be operated on a Saturday), I was eager to show the nursing staff that I'm all better. I could lift my upper body, sway to the left and the right, and as soon as the attending OB okayed for the catheter to be removed, I asked for the nurse to remove it immediately, she even kindly gave me a sponge bath and changed my hospital gown, I also requested to see Kulay. Soon after, a man trolling a wheelchair appeared, he was to bring me to the Nursery. I saw my boy for the first time without the effects of the sleeping drug and anesthesia. I was teary eyed. I didn't care if the pedia nurse could hear me, with squeaky, cracking, sobbing voice, I sang to Kulay. I stayed only 15mins, Kulay wouldn't latch on both boobs yet, we were both novice at the art of breastfeeding. I went up and changed to my normal clothes, right in time for my visitors arrival, Josua's parents with his niece, Yan-yan; my aunt, Ate Boling; my uncle, Kuya Mon with my cousin Evan; Kuya Leihson and his soon-to-be-wife, Ayha.
Our first family picture was to be taken that afternoon at the nursery nursing/waiting area.
I requested Kulay to be roomed in with me but my pedia arrived at the hospital late that night. Dra. Torres arrived promptly the following day and told me Kulay would be brought to me soon, and she'd be back later that afternoon as soon as my OB signs my release papers.
As I look back, the C-section wasn't that bad after all. The worst part of it was not being allowed to eat and drink until I've farted (to be sure my digestive system (intestines) are aligned). That was the most famished and thirsty I've ever been my entire life. Healing which was my major concern is after all as subjective as one's choice of how they want their eggs done. I am after all a fighter. So I fought the pain. Motherhood is not qualified by what kind of delivery a mother went through. And as I told the student nurse who volunteered to clean Kulay's poop (the first one I witnessed), "Go on... I will have years of cleaning up after my son's mess."
2. Breastfeeding is best for babies up to 2 years. Everyone knows so. To me and my pocket's disappointment, I would have to supplement with the pedia's recommended formula.
Two weeks prior to giving birth I have complained to my OB about a hardness and pain in my left nipple. A pain which even made me sleep sitting down since sleeping on my left side was too much to handle for the said nipple. The pain went away although the blockage stayed. Sad to say, my OB wasn't as concerned as I was. As I have predicted, Kulay wouldn't latch on the left boob, I felt like I was punishing him whenever I'd put him on that teat.
I think it was an infection caused by the cyst's rupture. My OB doesn't seem to agree also she didn't know what to do with it and just adviced me to let Josua suck on the boob to aid in the loosening of the blockage. And we tried all we could do. I had 3 manghihilots see me. They all were able to successfully give my right boob more milk but none of them was able to do anything with the blocked areola/nipple area. We were advised to put chili leaves on the areola, and we did that... For a while I thought it was working. One night, Josua and I even stayed up just pumping and working the blockage out to no avail. For a month now, I have resigned to the fact that I'll only be feeding with my right boob, if one looks closely you'll notice it's bigger than the other. I will have to top up with formula whenever Kulay doesn't seem satisfied; for at least one feeding during the night; and when Kulay seem to cry for the bottle and not my boob.
All I can say is "I tried my best."
Monday, August 24, 2009
MaKulay Cowboy: "Howdy Pardner!"
Pattern by: Alan Dart
Published in: Simply Knitting Magazine
I started making this about a month ago... I set it down when I had to make something for a friend's newborn twins.
It was Josua's eagerness that I make this which made me really want to finish it. -- daddy-to-be wants his son to be a cowboy...
NOTE: Hat, Gun, Holster, Green waistcoat are all removable.
Published in: Simply Knitting Magazine
I started making this about a month ago... I set it down when I had to make something for a friend's newborn twins.
It was Josua's eagerness that I make this which made me really want to finish it. -- daddy-to-be wants his son to be a cowboy...
NOTE: Hat, Gun, Holster, Green waistcoat are all removable.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Dr. Google and Latest Ultrasound Results
In this day and age, nothing is ever so difficult to understand... even medical jargon that doctors themselves have difficulty explaining in layman's terms.
This is what I do every time I have any prenatal tests, I bring home the results and google the terms and their normal or abnormal values. This makes me rarely surprised with what the doctor will be telling me the following day...
I, of course, still listen to how my OB-GYNE would interpret the results I hand to her.
Yesterday, I had, as my FB status says, possibly my last ultrasound prior to "Labor Day." It has words like posterior placenta, cephalic presentation, amniotic fluid index, estimated fetal weight (self explanatory), etc...
So before explaining my googled results, lemme share my most "assaulting" ultrasound experience...
I was to see another OB-Gyne Sonologist (Dr. B) as recommended by my own OB-Gyne Sonologist (Dr. A) because she rather have two points of view with the results. I was told to go to the hospital early so that I'd be served first. As early birds go, I arrived 15 mins before the doctor's scheduled clinic hours, 3.45 pm. Good thing I had my handy dandy knitting kit, Dr. B arrived at the hospital before 6pm and she seemed tired. I was supposed to be the first one but since, another "later" patient was a friend of the MedTechs, I came second. Coming out of the the ultrasound room before my turn, Dr. B states: "I'm so tired." My heart goes to her, even if I was half cursing all the people in the world who turn up late and cause unnecessary stress to the people who wait for them. After all, she could have been saving hundreds of babies that day...
As I wait for Dr. B to interpret the results for her first patient of the night, I lay back on the ultrasound table and chit chat with the technician who knows I've been waiting long... apparently she's a chronic late comer. Ashamed by my myriads of stretch marks, I opened up by stating how ugly my tummy looks. It was nice of her to say that she's seen worse and that mine wasn't that bad.
Dr. B enters the room, with some sort of a tired smile, robotically asks:
"When was your last menstrual period?"
I reply.
"First baby?"
I reply.
She types these info then methodically squeezes uber cold KY jelly on my hugely engorged tummy. She then places the scanner and starts prodding in all directions... Seeing what seems to be the head I gush and smile (I guess like all expectant mothers do.) She starts measuring, marking, and inputing texts and numbers on the screen. And the miss-eager-beaver-mother-to-be in me asks her: Is that the arms? That's the head? Oh, that's the lips.
She shuts me up saying let me do my measuring first then I can show you which is which. hehe... I wasn't offended really, I know I could be too "kulet" It was when she was showing me Kulay's face that I felt assaulted. Kulay's hands and fingers where covering half his face. We could only make out his lips and two nostrils. To sort of nudge Kulay to move his hands away, Dr. B started vigorously pushing my tummy sideways... She did this several times. It didn't really hurt me but I thought it might have hurt Kulay. I know if Josua was with me, he'd have stopped the doctor from what she was doing. Although, a part of me knows, that she wouldn't be doing it if she knows that was wrong. But still... All this vigorous prodding was to no avail. Below is the uber grainy 2D low tech ultrasound picture of Kulay's lips without a cleft pallete (Thank God!):
This session ends with "Okay we're done." as she quickly strips the print out off the printer and leaves the room immediately...
Glad it was over, and I could head back home, I brushed off her "cold" send off.
Here are some words that scared me at first:
posterior placenta - early in my pregnancy I was told my placenta was low lying, after googling it then, it could be what was termed placenta previa, which is a case where the placenta is blocking the birth canal. This usually causes heavy bleeding and would require and emergency C-section. Now after googling "posterior placenta presentation" I was happy to know that it's the best possible result. My placenta is by the uterus wall near my spine.
cephalic presentation - with how the picture was looking on screen I was, once again, scared that my baby was in horizontal position on my tummy which would mean C-section again, because it wouldn't be Kulay's head trying to push down the birth canal but rather his back! After googling, I was relieved to know that even if Kulay hasn't yet "locked down" on my pelvic bone, his head was pointing down and ready to "enlighten" anytime soon. (Sigh of relief here.)
estimated fetal weight (self explanatory) - this I guess is a very important factor... hmmm... the first value I looked for when the result was handed to me. It was written in grams and not in pounds. So I had to take out my cellphone and go to tools and open my measurement converter application. 2980 grams equals a whopping 6.57 lbs!!! Sheesh! Kulay is big! I hope he fits. I need to start walking A LOT! and I think last night would be my last hello to rice.
I'm still praying for a normal delivery...
This is what I do every time I have any prenatal tests, I bring home the results and google the terms and their normal or abnormal values. This makes me rarely surprised with what the doctor will be telling me the following day...
I, of course, still listen to how my OB-GYNE would interpret the results I hand to her.
Yesterday, I had, as my FB status says, possibly my last ultrasound prior to "Labor Day." It has words like posterior placenta, cephalic presentation, amniotic fluid index, estimated fetal weight (self explanatory), etc...
So before explaining my googled results, lemme share my most "assaulting" ultrasound experience...
I was to see another OB-Gyne Sonologist (Dr. B) as recommended by my own OB-Gyne Sonologist (Dr. A) because she rather have two points of view with the results. I was told to go to the hospital early so that I'd be served first. As early birds go, I arrived 15 mins before the doctor's scheduled clinic hours, 3.45 pm. Good thing I had my handy dandy knitting kit, Dr. B arrived at the hospital before 6pm and she seemed tired. I was supposed to be the first one but since, another "later" patient was a friend of the MedTechs, I came second. Coming out of the the ultrasound room before my turn, Dr. B states: "I'm so tired." My heart goes to her, even if I was half cursing all the people in the world who turn up late and cause unnecessary stress to the people who wait for them. After all, she could have been saving hundreds of babies that day...
As I wait for Dr. B to interpret the results for her first patient of the night, I lay back on the ultrasound table and chit chat with the technician who knows I've been waiting long... apparently she's a chronic late comer. Ashamed by my myriads of stretch marks, I opened up by stating how ugly my tummy looks. It was nice of her to say that she's seen worse and that mine wasn't that bad.
Dr. B enters the room, with some sort of a tired smile, robotically asks:
"When was your last menstrual period?"
I reply.
"First baby?"
I reply.
She types these info then methodically squeezes uber cold KY jelly on my hugely engorged tummy. She then places the scanner and starts prodding in all directions... Seeing what seems to be the head I gush and smile (I guess like all expectant mothers do.) She starts measuring, marking, and inputing texts and numbers on the screen. And the miss-eager-beaver-mother-to-be in me asks her: Is that the arms? That's the head? Oh, that's the lips.
She shuts me up saying let me do my measuring first then I can show you which is which. hehe... I wasn't offended really, I know I could be too "kulet" It was when she was showing me Kulay's face that I felt assaulted. Kulay's hands and fingers where covering half his face. We could only make out his lips and two nostrils. To sort of nudge Kulay to move his hands away, Dr. B started vigorously pushing my tummy sideways... She did this several times. It didn't really hurt me but I thought it might have hurt Kulay. I know if Josua was with me, he'd have stopped the doctor from what she was doing. Although, a part of me knows, that she wouldn't be doing it if she knows that was wrong. But still... All this vigorous prodding was to no avail. Below is the uber grainy 2D low tech ultrasound picture of Kulay's lips without a cleft pallete (Thank God!):
This session ends with "Okay we're done." as she quickly strips the print out off the printer and leaves the room immediately...
Glad it was over, and I could head back home, I brushed off her "cold" send off.
Here are some words that scared me at first:
posterior placenta - early in my pregnancy I was told my placenta was low lying, after googling it then, it could be what was termed placenta previa, which is a case where the placenta is blocking the birth canal. This usually causes heavy bleeding and would require and emergency C-section. Now after googling "posterior placenta presentation" I was happy to know that it's the best possible result. My placenta is by the uterus wall near my spine.
cephalic presentation - with how the picture was looking on screen I was, once again, scared that my baby was in horizontal position on my tummy which would mean C-section again, because it wouldn't be Kulay's head trying to push down the birth canal but rather his back! After googling, I was relieved to know that even if Kulay hasn't yet "locked down" on my pelvic bone, his head was pointing down and ready to "enlighten" anytime soon. (Sigh of relief here.)
estimated fetal weight (self explanatory) - this I guess is a very important factor... hmmm... the first value I looked for when the result was handed to me. It was written in grams and not in pounds. So I had to take out my cellphone and go to tools and open my measurement converter application. 2980 grams equals a whopping 6.57 lbs!!! Sheesh! Kulay is big! I hope he fits. I need to start walking A LOT! and I think last night would be my last hello to rice.
I'm still praying for a normal delivery...
Friday, August 7, 2009
What did I do to deserve this?
I have wanted to visit this spa in Quezon City which specializes in prenatal massage. When I hit 2nd trimester I knew my back was going to suffer really badly, so I craved a massage everyday and would only read about this spa and its reviews over the net but not really knowing when I'd be able to get it done on me. It's just an awful waste of time, effort, money and energy to travel from Cavite to QC just for a massage when I'd have to travel back to Cavite soon after...
Then yesterday morning, as I was settling into my now normal routine of feeding my shih tzu's pups and making sure that Sofia (the dam) gets to take her meds and drink her milk (since it's the only thing she tolerates, although I still have to force it on her), a question was brought up by my dear dear Josua: "Gusto mong massage?" (You want a massage?) And acting a little bit less excited, I said: "Well, who would say no to that?", while I hide a grin that has spread across my face.
I didn't know when this massage was going to transpire, but I looked forward to it the entire day.
Apparently, he's been youtube-ing prenatal massages the entire day and learning the strokes...
That night at around 8.30pm, from the very first warm oily stroke along my calves, I have felt heaven. He didn't knead me like a dough, as I was accustomed to with previous massages I've experienced, it was a very gentle, very loving rub. And I could feel my dear Kulay moving in my belly, probably sensing the relief and relaxation his momma is experiencing.
I loved the shoulder rub, my shoulder's have been taking a beating since the pups have arrived, but the best part of it all is when Josua told me: "Nag-eenjoy ako sa ginagawa ko." (I'm enjoying what I'm doing.) That just sealed it. I am sure to coax another round of this before and after I give birth. At least I didn't force it on him.
When he finished with both sides of my body, I was sort of in a trance, super relaxed and almost asleep but conscious enough to know it's over. If I didn' have to feed the pups for the last time before I sleep, I would have just dozed off at that moment.
Just to be certain, as I was going through the pups one last time before I sleep, I thanked my love, Josua, for the best massage EVER! (better than the most expensive ones I've tried) and I subtly, vocally, wondered "Mauulit kaya ito?" (Would it happen again?)
And the answer was a happy "YES."
Then yesterday morning, as I was settling into my now normal routine of feeding my shih tzu's pups and making sure that Sofia (the dam) gets to take her meds and drink her milk (since it's the only thing she tolerates, although I still have to force it on her), a question was brought up by my dear dear Josua: "Gusto mong massage?" (You want a massage?) And acting a little bit less excited, I said: "Well, who would say no to that?", while I hide a grin that has spread across my face.
I didn't know when this massage was going to transpire, but I looked forward to it the entire day.
Apparently, he's been youtube-ing prenatal massages the entire day and learning the strokes...
That night at around 8.30pm, from the very first warm oily stroke along my calves, I have felt heaven. He didn't knead me like a dough, as I was accustomed to with previous massages I've experienced, it was a very gentle, very loving rub. And I could feel my dear Kulay moving in my belly, probably sensing the relief and relaxation his momma is experiencing.
I loved the shoulder rub, my shoulder's have been taking a beating since the pups have arrived, but the best part of it all is when Josua told me: "Nag-eenjoy ako sa ginagawa ko." (I'm enjoying what I'm doing.) That just sealed it. I am sure to coax another round of this before and after I give birth. At least I didn't force it on him.
When he finished with both sides of my body, I was sort of in a trance, super relaxed and almost asleep but conscious enough to know it's over. If I didn' have to feed the pups for the last time before I sleep, I would have just dozed off at that moment.
Just to be certain, as I was going through the pups one last time before I sleep, I thanked my love, Josua, for the best massage EVER! (better than the most expensive ones I've tried) and I subtly, vocally, wondered "Mauulit kaya ito?" (Would it happen again?)
And the answer was a happy "YES."
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